Comments: LADY SPENCER has been a beaten favorite in her last three races but faces a fairly weak field and should finally break that streak for Brad Cox today. FINEST CRYSTAL drops in class and looks like the one to beat. INDYGO FASHION ran well in her lone dirt race here at Churchill and is a contender.

2nd -- $24,700, Claiming ($25,000), 3 YO & up, F&M, 6 f.

P#

Horse, jockey/trainer

Odds

1.

I Knot, V. Lebron/Frost

8-1

2.

Victory Island, J. Leparoux/Maker

7-2

3.

Precision Farming, R. Santana, Jr./Asmussen

4-1

4.

Juliet's Promise, O. Rossi/Jones

5-1

5.

Brilliant Autumn, M. Mena/Cox

3-1

6.

Sunshineandsilence, C. Lanerie/Montano, Sr.

8-1

7.

Senacher, M. Pedroza/Langemeier

6-1

8.

Do Dat Blues, B. Hernandez, Jr./Scherer

15-1

9.

Determined Yankee, N. Arroyo, Jr./Foley

30-1

Choices: 1.Brilliant Autumn, 2. Victory Island, 3. Juliet's Promise.

Comments: BRILLIANT AUTUMN was claimed from her last win at Keeneland and won a race over this track last year. She can make it two in a row for Cox with Mena picking up the mount. VICTORY ISLAND was claimed last out by Mike Maker, who has had a slow start this meet. Look for his horses to run much better with the Breeders' Cup behind him. JULIET'S PROMISE beat the top pick here last year and is a contender.

3rd -- $20,100, Maiden Claiming ($50,000-$45,000), 3 YO & up, 1 mi.

P#

Horse, jockey/trainer

Odds

1.

Ephram S, J. Court/Von Hemel

4-1

2.

Talk About Luck, A. Garcia/Jones

5-1

3.

Gameday Spanking, A. Stephen/Dorochenko

20-1

4.

Came to Believe, R. Prescott/Hughes

10-1

5.

Chrome Asset, D. Davis/Slovis

30-1

6.

Alert and Perky, M. Mena/Lovell

8-1

7.

Warrior's Image, C. Lanerie/Foley

20-1

8.

New Found King, M. Pedroza/Draper

15-1

9.

Strike It Big, S. Bridgmohan/Catalano

7-5

10.

Net Profit, N. Arroyo, Jr./Ritter

8-1

Choices: 1.Strike It Big, 2. Net Profit, 3. Ephram S.

Comments: STRIKE IT BIG just missed when dropped to this level back in September. He has been training steadily for Wayne Catalano and looks like a solid bet to get the win with Bridgmohan picking up the mount. NET PROFIT faded badly in the stretch going a mile and an eighth at Keeneland, but this son of Tiznow should like the move to the Churchill dirt. Look for a much improved effort today. EPHRAM S drops in for a tag for the first time and definitely fits at this level.

4th -- $14,000, Starter Allowance ($5,000), 3 YO & up, F&M, 6 f.

P#

Horse, jockey/trainer

Odds

1.

a-Islet, R. Napravnik/Richard

2-1

1A.

a-Galloping Domino, C. Lanerie/Richard

2-1

2.

Sluiceway, R. Morales/Lauer

20-1

3.

Hot Ember, D. Davis/Fosdick

10-1

4.

T Jays Affair, J. Court/Anderson

15-1

5.

Won Great Damsel, E. Paucar/Burch

4-1

6.

Actin' Ugly, L. Goncalves/Campbell

30-1

7.

Issheit, S. Sanjur/Girdley

20-1

8.

Admired, R. Albarado/Woodard

4-1

9.

Quite Explosive, M. Mena/Werner

3-1

a-Coupled.

Choices: 1.Quite Explosive, 2. Islet, 3. Galloping Domino.

Comments: QUITE EXPLOSIVE was claimed back by Ronny Warner in August after losing here in May. She responded with a solid win at Keeneland and shouldn't mind the move back to the dirt today. Look for her to make it two in a row. ISLET and GALLOPPING DOMINO form a tough entry for Chris Richard and both are capable of running well.

5th -- $16,200, Maiden Claiming ($30,000-$25,000), 2 YO, 6 ½ f.

P#

Horse, jockey/trainer

Odds

1.

a-Dubaele, F. Torres/Pucek

8-1

1A.

a-Tribunus, F. Torres/Pucek

8-1

2.

Hurricane Pass, M. Pedroza/Goeing

12-1

3.

Tazdue, C. Lanerie/Minnock

50-1

4.

Bad Bob, J. Court/Fires

6-1

5.

Coach Hamilton, L. Goncalves/Cox

5-1

6.

Seven Spot, R. Santana, Jr./Asmussen

3-1

7.

Dakota Fred, R. Morales/Casey

20-1

8.

Escarto, S. Sanjur/Salazar

30-1

9.

Sunshine King, N. Arroyo, Jr./Zito

15-1

10.

Trio of Mischief, D. Davis/Good

10-1

11.

Is Silver Good, C. Hill/Catalano

5-2

a-Coupled.

Choices: 1.Coach Hamilton, 2. Is Silver Good, 3. Seven Spot.

Comments: COACH HAMILTON debuts for Brad Cox, who is very good with first-time starters. The works for this one aren't fast, but he has been training steadily and figures to be ready to go this afternoon. IS SILVER GOOD looks much the best of the ones who have raced. SEVEN SPOT makes his second start for Steve Asmussen and gets blinkers for the first time.

6th -- $41,000, Maiden Special Weight, 2 YO, F, 1 mi., tf.

P#

Horse, jockey/trainer

Odds

1.

Gabby's Purim, R. Napravnik/Proctor

12-1

2.

Kitty's Giant, L. Goncalves/Thomas

20-1

3.

Poppy's Dream, R. Albarado/McPeek

15-1

4.

Candy Crush, J. Court/Oliver

7-2

5.

Ready Player One, C. Lanerie/Arnold, II

8-1

6.

Code Name Ava, A. Garcia/Carroll

4-1

7.

Union Prayer, D. Davis/Gorder

12-1

8.

Place Card, J. Leparoux/Motion

3-1

9.

Fact File, M. Mena/Mott

10-1

10.

Stock Yard Hen, S. Bridgmohan/Harty

6-1

Also Eligible

11.

Blush Again, C. Hill/Catalano

5-1

12.

Jannes Paul, R. Napravnik/Kenneally

12-1

13.

Ziptomylu, R. Albarado/Motion

10-1

14.

Thunder Wit, O. Rossi/Hancock

30-1

Choices: 1.Place Card, 2. Code Name Ava, 3. Candy Crush.

Comments: PLACE CARD dropped back to dead last after being bumped soundly at the start in her debut at Keeneland. She should move forward off of that one and rates the edge in a tough maiden race. CODE NAME AVA ran well to finish third in her only race on the Keeneland lawn and is the one to beat. CANDY CRUSH is a solid contender.

7th -- $14,700, Claiming ($10,000), 3 YO & up, 6 f.

P#

Horse, jockey/trainer

Odds

1.

Boy's Brother Bob, A. De Leon/Dodge

15-1

2.

Tobes the Man, P. Ouzts/Anderson

5-1

3.

Vita Desiderata, R. Morales/Ruvalcaba

6-1

4.

Santo Gato, N. Arroyo, Jr./Scherer

5-2

5.

Stew Boy, R. Vergara/Sullivan

15-1

6.

Buster Rose, D. Davis/Dunn

20-1

7.

Grand Sensation, F. Torres/Hobby

9-2

8.

Launch Commander, S. Bridgmohan/Cox

2-1

Choices: 1.Launch Commander, 2. Vita Desiderata, 3. Santo Gato.

Comments: LAUNCH COMMANDER was an impressive winner over this track in September and lost his best chance last out when he stumbled leaving the gate. His best should be good enough to win this one. VITA DESIDERATA cuts back in distance and should will be running late in a race with an abundance of early speed. He should figure in the gimmicks. SANTO GATO is a contender.

8th -- $41,000, Maiden Special Weight, 3 YO & up, F&M, 6 f.

P#

Horse, jockey/trainer

Odds

1.

She Be Keene, C. Lanerie/Gorder

4-1

2.

Miz Minnie Moon, M. Adam/Dennis

15-1

3.

Core Destination, S. Bridgmohan/McKeever

15-1

4.

Solitary Life, J. Leparoux/Proctor

12-1

5.

Soul of Comete, R. Albarado/Stewart

10-1

6.

Comfort and Joy, M. Mena/Foley

20-1

7.

Not Be Forgotten, J. Castanon/Sims

20-1

8.

Mema, R. Napravnik/Kenneally

5-1

9.

Banshee Warrior, L. Goncalves/Carroll

12-1

10.

Gigglin' Gal, B. Hernandez, Jr./Wilkes

10-1

11.

Aireofdistinction, R. Santana, Jr./Asmussen

3-1

12.

Defoe Street, A. Garcia/Nafzger

6-1

Also Eligible

13.

Wendy and Her Cats, A. Tamburello/Mills

30-1

Choices: 1.Mema, 2. Aireofdistinction, 3. She Be Keene.

Comments: MEMA was hammered at the windows in her debut at Keeneland but failed to fire and may not have liked the poly. She has training very well over the Churchill surface and is capable of much better today. AIREOFDISTINCTION has hooked some tough fields both here and at Saratoga. She posted a recent bullet work for Asmussen and looks like the main competition. SHE BE KEENE is a definite threat.

Comments: ELUSIVE FATE exits two straight graded stakes races and has the speed to be on or near the lead from the inside post. She should handle the added distance and rates the edge with Hernandez back aboard for Rusty Arnold. MOLLY MORGAN is a former claimer in the capable hands of Dale Romans. She owns two wins over the Churchill strip and is the one to beat. PLENTY O'TOOLE will be running at the end.

10th -- $11,600, Claiming ($7,500), 3 YO & up, 7 f.

P#

Horse, jockey/trainer

Odds

1.

Feature Winner, N. Arroyo, Jr./Foley

4-1

2.

Z Camelot, M. Mena/Montano, Sr.

5-1

3.

Smokin Fast, V. Lebron/Curtsinger

30-1

4.

Thingamajigger, S. Bridgmohan/Maker

5-2

5.

Government Road, J. Court/Thomas, Jr.

30-1

6.

Jazil Bell, J. McKee/Bradley

8-1

7.

Sweet Alexander, R. Morales/Hancock

20-1

8.

Grand Harbor, L. Goncalves/Brownfield, III

15-1

9.

Katapulter, C. Orm/Aschinger

20-1

10.

Lucky Exchange, C. Lanerie/Fugate

8-1

11.

Zacamac, B. Hernandez, Jr./Glyshaw

20-1

12.

Super Star Darrell, D. Davis/Gowan

20-1

Also Eligible

13.

Siva, C. Lanerie/Dyer

20-1

14.

Macho Matt, D. Davis/Dortch

8-1

15.

Sheba's Echo, E. Wilkinson/Huffman

10-1

16.

Betterlookout, S. Sanjur/Retamoza, Sr.

20-1

Choices: 1.Thingamajigger, 2. Z Camelot, 3. Feature Winner.

Comments: THINGAMAJIGGER looks like a solid bet to take the last race. Z CAMELOT exits the same race as the top pick and figures second best. FEATURE WINNER broke his maiden over this track back in September.

HOW MIKE BATTAGLIA'S TOP PICKS FARED

Races

1st

2nd

3rd

Sunday

10

4

1

1

Meet

51

15

11

13

Liam Durbin's picks

1. Lady Spencer, Finest Crystal, Indygo Fashion.

2. Brilliant Autumn, Victory Island, I Knot.

3. Strike It Big, Came to Believe, Alert and Perky.

4. Islet, Galloping Domino, Quite Explosive.

5. Is Silver Good, Seven Spot, Bad Bob.

6. Code Name Ava, Place Card, Candy Crush.

7. Launch Commander, Santo Gato, Buster Rose.

8. She Be Keene, Aireofdistinction, Core Destination.

9. Elusive Fate, Plenty O'Toole, Molly Morgan.

10. Thingamajigger, Super Star Darrell, Feature Winner.

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Wednesday's entries at Churchill Downs

Handicapper Mike Battaglia makes his selections for Wednesday's day of racing at Churchill Downs in Louisville.